Apple Launches Cheaper iPhone SE for Emerging Markets

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shopper, Alice Clarke shows off the new iPhone 6 as crowds wait in anticipation for the release of the iPhone 6 at Apple Store on September 19, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Australian buyers get first dibs because of the local time zone, which is several hours ahead of the US and other parts of the world. (Photo by Cole Bennetts/Getty Images)(Photo : Cole Bennetts / Stringer)

A cheaper and smaller Apple smart phone called iPhone SE was launched by the technology mogul on Monday with the purpose of targeting developing markets.

With a $399 introducory price at the United States, its distribution also aims to conquer the Chinese market, biggest consumer of smart phones. The low-priced product, made available for orders on March 24, is set to hit the stores on March 31. It is said to be Apple's take on avenging its losses considering the recorded decline in its iPhone sales for the past three years.

TECHnalysis Research analyst Bob O'Donnell said the iPhone SE is a cool way to upgrade to an iPhone for people who do not wish for a large screen mobile. He added that its cheapness, however, does not guarantee that it will become a sure hit even to emerging markets like those of African, Middle East, and Indian markets. He explained that other smart phones running on Android OS with competitive specifications will still be cheaper than the iPhone ES.

During the product's launch on Monday, Apple has invited tech writers and reporters to its Cupertino (California) office instead of its usual San Francisco auditorium where previous Apple products had been introduced. An impressive iPhone SE was witnessed by spectators, which features a 4-inch display screen with 12 mega pixels iSight camera.

Its 64 bit A9 chip processor is said to be its best asset as it enables a better and faster perfromance on either data or wireless network. Moor Insights & Strategy analyst Patrick Moorhead mentioned that the awaited iPhone SE may provide Apple a short-term success with this feature which experts call "carrier aggregation."

He added, however, that amidst these features, newer and better Android phones like Huawei, Xiaomi, Samsung, and LG may still rule the smart phone markets.

The iPhone SE will be Apple's second attempt to introduce and run an entry-level phone. The first try was in 2013 with iPhone 5c which initially picked up sales but eventually turned out to be a fail and was later on removed from the company's iPhone 5 line up.